The later hypertension develops, the lower the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease
Last reviewed: 28.11.2021
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High blood pressure is without a doubt a health hazard, however, hypertensive drugs not only normalize blood pressure, but also help reduce the risk of developing senile dementia. As experts believe, the higher the pressure, the less likely the development of dementia in old age.
Experts point out that if in middle age a person suffers from high blood pressure, then the probability of developing disease of Alzheimer's disease and other mental disorders increases with time. However, this effect disappears in the elderly.
Such conclusions came from specialists from the University of California. Researchers analyzed the condition of elderly people who had no problems with reducing cognitive function.
Specialists have examined the health status of more than 600 people every 6 months for 10 years. As a result, scientists found that the development of hypertension after 80 years significantly reduced possible problems with cognitive activity of the brain, in contrast to people who at this age had normal pressure. Also, scientists noted that the development of hypertension after 90 years, further reduced the likelihood of senile dementia. At the same time, the effect did not depend on the use of medicines for increased blood pressure.
But, despite the conclusions made, experts assure that it is necessary to take medicine for hypertension. In addition, earlier studies have shown that hypertension medications help prevent age-related memory loss. The research project involved about 800 elderly people, of whom 600 suffered from hypertension.
The type of drug from high blood pressure did not play a significant role, but the treatment of hypertension allowed to avoid a number of anomalies in the brain. beta-blockers , which prevented the drying of the brain, proved to be particularly effective .
In addition, a long-term study of one of the medical schools has made it possible to establish that a change in pressure throughout life will help to identify the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Thus scientists mark, that it is necessary to consider pressure and at young age.
Experts point out that if it is as early as possible to take measures to normalize the pressure, this will help prevent a number of unpleasant health problems. Experts analyzed the health status of people aged 18 to 55 years. As a result, scientists were able to determine that there are certain patterns of pressure change, which in middle age can provoke calcification of the arteries, which leads to a high probability of developing a heart attack.
Researchers noted that, first of all, the results concern young people suffering from high blood pressure. Specialists compared the results of young people at the age of 18, whose high blood pressure still remained within the norm with those who had normal blood pressure. Over time, when the participants of the experiment reached the middle age, high-grade hypertension was observed in the first category with high blood pressure, and the probability of arterial calcification increased fourfold.